It’s not often we get offered the chance to visit a ‘psychedelic-inspired cosmic universe’ (well, unless we’re being talked into those darned absinthe cocktails again). Yet here it is – and in Hoxton, no less! Because this year’s London Illustration Fair, bringing together the most exciting collectives, designers, graffiti and visual artists working today, has the theme of psychedelia. Which means, along with snapping up cutting-edge works for as little as a fiver, watching illustration battles and lapping up live music , we can attend a ‘print your own magic mushroom’ screen-printing workshop. There’s nothing more we can really add to that. 10-12 July; £5 Hoxton Arches, Arch 402, Cremer Street E2 8HD thelondonillustrationfair.co.uk

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EVENT: Lock Live

Surely there is no better thing in life than a festival. Hang on: how about a FREE festival? Yep, that might do it. Especially when said free festival is held throughout Camden Stables Market and canalside at Camden Lock, involves live sets from Stealing Sheep, The Cuban Brothers, Norman Jay and the intriguingly named SOUP Ukele Club, and rolls into after-parties at venues including Gilgamesh and Proud. Oh yes, and there’s renowned street-food stalls, workshops, spoken-word artists and over 300 craft and fashion stalls. Seems Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson had it right – the best things in life really are free. 10 July, 12pm-10pm; free. Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AF

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FILM: Love & Mercy

So you love The Beach Boys, right? If you answered yes, you may skip the next two sentences. If no: sorry, Good Vibrations, God Only Knows, Wouldn’t It Be Nice? See, you do. Now that we’re all on the same page, you’ll all appreciate why this biopic of genius songwriter Brian Wilson is essential viewing. Cutting between a young Wilson (played by the marvellous Paul Dano) recording Pet Sounds and the troubled man he would become by the 1980s (John Cusack), it veers between psychedelia and psychosis to provide an insight into one of rock history’s most talented and tortured figures. Out 10 July, cinemas nationwide

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FOOD: The Secret Barbecue

Sun’s out, then, and the only appropriate response can be summed up by our favourite three letters: BBQ. But not for us blackened Tesco Value sausages, yellowing potato salad and disposable tinfoil grills, oh no. For here is a secret barbecue at the home of a Michelin-trained chef, featuring wood-fired St Louis-style pork ribs, tandoor-cooked lime leaf and coriander chicken, and sides including sweet potato chaat and southern smoky beans. There are also hammocks, music amid a stunning garden setting. Plus, it also involves our favourite FOUR letters: BYOB. Oh yes. 12 July; £35 Secret Barbecue, London N19

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DRINK: Freixenet Bar at Summer Tales

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin. Once upon a time, there was a pop-up called Summer Tales – an enchanted rainforest with the finest street food stalls in all the land, and a disco playing funk, soul and hip-hop under a canopy of trees. It surely can’t get better, you’d think – but wait! The wizards at Freixenet conjured up a cava bar, popping corks of Cordon Negro (aka black bubbly) and creating all kinds of wondrous cocktails, meaning we all get to live very happily ever after. Moral of the story: get down there, before – poof! – it disappears. Until 29 August; £4 before 9pm, £5 after Red Market, 288 Old Street, Shoreditch, EC1V 9DP nighttales.co.uk

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POP-UP: Christabel’s Wimbledon Wonderland

We love Wimbledon. But we don’t love camping overnight in a queue for the merest chance of getting to see the men’s final from Murray Mound. Lucky, then, that we’ve got a WAY better idea – watching it on a grassy London rooftop, while feasting on a fantastical tennis-themed barbecue, sipping on Murray Mule vodka cocktails, and tucking into a lavish afternoon tea with a twist. It’s all possible thanks to pop-up supremos Christabel’s, who will be taking to the top of Brunswick Studios to make even Centre Court tickets seem quite a poor option indeed. After all, you can’t get edible tennis balls there… 12 July; £60 Brunswick Studios, Maida Vale, W9 3HY christabels.org

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EVENT: Chap Olympiad

Remember London 2012? Well this is NOTHING like that. Cast aside memories of lycra running shorts (vulgar) and physical exertion (unseemly), for this Olympiad is for the altogether more discerning sportsperson. Celebrating all things vintage, foppish and downright dapper, the eccentric event pits impeccably attired opponents against each other in events such as passing the port, moustache wrestling, umbrella jousting and tug-of-hair. Away from the ‘action’, you can also expect vintage clothing stalls, a Victorian strongman and country fair sideshows. Just be sure to dress appropriately, old bean. 11 July; £25 Bedford Square Gardens, Bloomsbury, W1B 3ES thechapOlympiad.com

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